Automatic lubricator for journal-boxes.



(Application led Sept. 26, 1898.) (N o M 0 d e I I c. 1M: Nonms PETERS co, PMoTuLITMo.. wAsHmm-ou o Unirse STATES arnNr trice@ JAMES G. SMITH, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF TVO-TI'IIRlDS TO GEORGE HILDENBRANDT, OF SAME PLACE, AND GEORGE IV. DAVY, OF

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

AUTOMATIC LUBRICATOR FOR JOURNAL-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,860, dated October 10, 1899.

Application filed September Z6, 1898. Serial No. 691,914. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concer/t! y Be itknown that I, JAMES G. SMITH, residing at Covington, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Journal-Boxes and Lubricators, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic lubricator for j ournal-boxes. It is specially adapted to be applied to the axles of cars and locomotives.

It is essential for the proper lubrication of journals that the lubricant shall be applied continuously. It is equally essential that the supply shall be just sufficient and not in excess of the amount required for keeping the journal cool. All these and other objects are accomplished by my invention, the features of which will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, in Which- I `igure l is a central vertical longitudinal section through the journal and lubricating device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section on the line nos of Fig. l. Eig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the lubricating apparatus. j Referring to the drawings, the referenceletter A designates the axle of a locomotivetruck; B, the journal-box; C, the brass bushing, and E the bolster supporting the box. D represents the box or cellar, which is suspended from the journal-box in the usual manner.

F represents a shell frame or tray mounted upon springs G, which rest on the base of the oil-cellar, it being adapted to movably fit within said journal-box.

H represents a longitudinal saddle extending transversely across said frame. This saddle is made of rigid material for reasons to be hereinafter set forth, and its opposite ends rest between and are supported by keepers I-l at the ends of the said tray, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

I represents a wicking or web of fibrous material adapted to take up oil by capillary attraction. This web is supported across said saddle, and the lower ends thereof depend through longitudinal slots or openings c, formed-in the bottom J of the tray F and extend into the oil-cellar to convey oil in graduated quantities to the portion of the web extended over the saddle. In order that there shall not be an excess of oil applied to the journal, the springs G are made strong, so as to press the web up against the axle with considerable force. The saddle H, being of rigid material, acts to press or squeeze out the surplus oil on each side of the contacting point of the web, and hence the journal is moistened with a very thin film of oil instead of a heavier coating, which would be the case if the saddle H were dispensed with, and such surplus oil thus squeezed out finds its way back into the oil-cellar through the longitudinal slots ct in the bottom of the tray.

At each end of the tray two vertical parallel walls are provided to form between them narrow compartments, in each of which is detachably supported a d ust-guard K, having a concave upper portion to closely t the journal and prevent the entrance of dust or oth er foreign matter to the lubricating material.V

By the construction herein described it will be obvious that the tray, dust-guards, and web are spring-controlled, and each is detachable from the j ournal-box, as well as from each other part, so that one part can be renewed or removed at any time independent of the other.

I have found by experience that this form of lubricating device is simple, economical, and durable, effecting a saving of at least fifty per cent. of the lubricant formerly consumed by previous devices. It is also a reliable automatic lubricator, adapted to be used in connection with all journal-boxes, supplying just the correct amount of lubricant and avoiding any danger of overheating the journal-boxes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- A lubricating device for journal-boxes, comprising an oil box or cellar, a removable spring-supported tray adapted to fit within said oil-box, a narrow compartment at each end of the tray formed by vertically-arranged parallel walls, and detachable dustguards supported in said compartments, the said tray being provided in its bottom with two longitudinal slots arranged parallel to each other and which extend throughout substan- ICO - separated lugs or keepers arranged within Lially the whole length of the tray', a pair of said saddle and havingV its ends depending 1.o

through the said slots and lying in the oil box the tray at each end thereof, said lugs being or cellar. carried by the inner vertical end walls of the In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set tray, a longitudinal saddle of rigid material my hand. supported ab its opposite ends between said JAMES e.' SMITH. lugs or keepers, said saddle being arranged fitnessesr between the longitudinal slots -in the tray, OLIVER B. KAISER,

A and a fibrous web extending over the top 0f C. W. MILES. 

